Gary Trites Not Guilty in Toddler Sexual Assault Case

The verdict is not guilty. Refreshing words to the man who has maintained his innocence from the beginning. According to the documents filed with the court, Gary J. Trites of Williamsburg, Virginia, aged 34, was charged with object sexual penetration and child abuse in December 2013. The charges were the result of an investigation into the injuries sustained by a 22-month-old baby girl who was cared for by him. Investigators uncovered that Trites had been left alone with the toddler for two days, when her mother noticed the injuries upon picking her up, placing him under suspicion. However, it all ended when Trites was found not guilty in the toddler sexual assault case on Wednesday, September 23, in Williamsburg, according to The Virginia Gazette.

The bench trial presided over by Judge Michael McGinty started on Sept. 10, 2015, and by the end of the day, the prosecution had finished presenting its case. However, the defense could only produce one witness, and apparently, the sole witness for Trites would not be available to testify on the next day. This prompted a continuation of the trial until today, according to the office of the county clerk.

The prosecution presented its case based on the examination of the toddler, whose injuries included marks and bruises on her ears, forehead, genitals, legs, and chin. Furthermore, no other adult had similar access to the child during those few days, which led investigators to speculate that Trites was responsible.

In a bench trial, there is no jury because the judge determines the outcome of the case. Trites was being held at Virginia Regional Peninsula Jail and was released after his acquittal. Although he could not be reached for comment, Trites used a Facebook post to say he was innocent.

He wasn’t found not guilty. Do reporters research anything anymore? The case was dismissed because there was no hard evidence and the judge had to have proof beyond a reasonable doubt because he was facing life in prison for what he did to that toddler. Pull the transcripts from the judges verdict and you will find that the judge believes he was guilty but was bound by law to dismiss the case. Gary Trites can still be tried again if more evidence surfaces and on different charges.